CHAPTER THREE
"Judging by the looks on your faces," Kabrua said, "I'll take it that you thought you had lost us."
Gelu scowled as he raised his Ice Slicer at the Vorox. "How did you find us? We saw you cross the river back there."
Kabrua chuckled. "What did you expect? We're hunters; it's only natural that we have keen senses."
Orde narrowed his eyes at him. He felt that there was more to it than just "keen senses"....
"Also," Kabrua went on, "if I were you, I wouldn't waste my energy trying to attack. The reason why we let you keep your weapons is because we could simply eradicate you with our blasters."
"How did you even manage to develop those?" Gelu asked. "Technology like that wasn't common here even before the Shattering, and I doubt Bota Magna has the materials necessary to create them."
The Vorox leader gave him a wicked grin. "A lot can happen in the span of a hundred thousand years. Besides, does it matter?" Simultaneously, the three Vorox raised their weapons. "You won't live long enough to find out."
As the blasters began to charge up, Orde sent a mental message to Gelu. Run!
The two of them started to run, knowing deep down that they would not be able to escape in time. Orde squeezed his eyes shut, bracing himself for his inevitable demise. Despite being away from the Vorox's blasters, he could still feel the heat of the incoming attack.
An attack which never came.
He heard the sound of lightning clashing and dared to stop and open his eyes. Turning around, he saw Toa Chiara and Zaria standing over three, now unconscious Vorox. Upon seeing Orde and Gelu's surprised reactions, Chiara smiled and tapped the side of her Kanohi, a Mask of Stealth.
"Guess who ever gave these guys Elemental power dampeners forgot to tell them about Mask Powers."
Gelu smiled at the Toa of Lightning. "If I've said anything bad about you, I take it back."
"Good thing you haven't, then," Chiara said. "Otherwise, we wouldn't be talking."
"We should get a move on before they wake up," Zaria said, gesturing to the Vorox. "We knocked out the other two watching us earlier, and they might already be getting up."
Gelu nodded. "A sound idea. Let's go."
"Hang on." Orde walked up to the unconscious Kabrua and, removing his blaster from his hand, lifted the Vorox up from the ground, slinging him over his shoulder.
"Zaria, can you examine the weapon?" he asked the Toa of Iron. "I know that Fe-Matoran are good with building such things."
"Uh, sure," Zaria murmured as he took the blaster, at the same time eying Kabrua. "Why are we taking him with us?"
"I'll explain later along the way," Orde replied. "Now let's get going before either of those Vorox wake up."
As the three Toa and Gelu began to move out, they all failed to notice several watchful eyes observing them, silently moving to take pursuit.
* * *
Not much to Kopeke's surprise, pretty much everyone else was there waiting for him by the time he had reached Iconox. Of the gathered Matoran, he only recognized Macku, Tamaru, Taipu, and Vican. The two new members Macku had recruited, he did not know, though they both seemed to have builds unusual of a Matoran.
"Kopeke," Macku said upon noticing his arrival, "this is Balta and Garan from Voya Nui. They will be accompanying us on our journey."
Kopeke nodded at the two of them. "Glad you're with us." He looked around, seeing no sign of a certain Toa of Light. "Where's Toa Takanuva? I thought he was going with us."
Macku smiled. "Oh, he should be on his way."
Sure enough, Kopeke soon heard the roar of an engine and turned to see Toa Takanuva riding into Iconox in a chariot-like vehicle used by the Agori, who called it a Thornatus. Beside him were two Sand Stalkers- creatures native to Spherus Magna- both being ridden by Agori. Once the Thornatus had come to a stop, Takanuva climbed out of it and grinned at the Matoran.
"I come bearing transportation."
"Fascinating," the Ta-Matoran named Balta said, his eyes wide as he admired the vehicle. "I've never seen such impressive craftsmanship!"
"You guys better take good care of it," one of the Agori muttered. "I built it from spare parts for a Glatorian in my tribe, and it's been through a lot. Would hate to see it in pieces."
Balta glanced at the blue-armored Agori and slowly nodded. "Er, right. Got it."
"I take it we're not all going to ride in it," Macku said, nodding at the two Sand Stalkers. "So who's riding what?"
"You, Kopeke, and Garan will accompany me in the Thornatus," Takanuva said. "Tamaru and Vican will ride one Sand Stalker, and Balta and Taipu the other."
Kopeke nodded. "All right. So, are we ready?"
"Whenever you are," Macku said with a grin. "Where do we start?"
"Bota Magna, I suppose. I know that that's where the three Toa searching for the Great Beings were headed. Might as well start there."
"Sounds good to me," Takanuva said. "What say we go?"
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